Small and solid with a warm mono sound - the updated R1 MkII digital radio is
perfect for a kitchen worktop or even as a bedside alarm clock

Aesthetics are all-important when it comes to new DAB radios, partly as they tend to sit prominently in the kitchen but also because the competition is so good. If you have somewhere between £100 and £200 to spend on a good looking radio you’ll be spoiled for choice.

Ruark’s original R1 was extremely popular and this updated version adds DAB+ (better quality for those with poor reception) and tone controls, although the latter are best left well alone as it sounds warm and clear out of the box.

Whether you plump for the white, black or walnut finish you get an attractive and well-put-together package. The walnut version which we tested looks like wood and feels like wood, but Ruark call it a “wood-based product” which sounds as though it may not be as natural as it at first seems. It doesn’t detract from the clean design.

The single speaker sits front and centre underneath a sharp and bright blue screen, with all the controls in a small cluster on top. You get five presets to store your favourite stations and a large volume dial that also functions as power on/off when depressed. Everything else can be largely ignored; as you’d expect, it’s very simple to use.

It does have alarm, which is handy, as it can be pressed into service as a bedside clock. Waking to Radio 6 Music is a pleasant treat in a world where most of us now rely on our squawking smartphones.

It’s a compact package, considering the volume and sound quality you get. Certainly it’s not up to being the sole source of music for a large living room – for a start it’s mono, like many DAB radios - but it will happily fill a kitchen, and the optional battery pack means it can be taken on the go as well.

You get DAB, FM and a line-in plug should you wish to play music through your smartphone. But realistically most people will set it to their favourite DAB station and only ever use the power on/off button. For this, it’s perfect: attractive, good sound quality, small and simple to use.

Unfortunately the price is rather high - Pure’s Evoke D4 offers similarly high build-quality and sound for £50 less – but it’s well-built, future-proof and will do its job stylishly for years to come.